Senior Warden Elect

Tonight I was elected to the position of Senior Warden of Washington Lodge #3, Maryland's Oldest Masonic lodge. The installation will be January 21, 2010. I will do my best to bring honor to the WM, Past Masters and Members of the lodge. It is a very special honor to be elected to serve my mother lodge in such a significant way less than a year after I was raised and I have a great deal of work ahead of me in the coming year. We have three new apprentices coming in 2010 and I will make sure that the lectures are executed in a manner befitting this historic lodge and which will leave a lasting impression on those apprentices. I was also present tonight when Bro Charles Weinbrenner P.M. finally received his 60 year pin from our Grand Inspector Bro. Robert W. Chase. We closed the lodge with the usual ceremony and enjoyed our Christmas Party and Gift Exchange.

32nd Degree Scottish Rite Mason - Master of the Royal Secret.

Today I have completed the required degrees of the Scottish Rite as a member of the Fall Class of 2009 - Valley of Baltimore, Orient of Maryland of the Southern Jurisdiction of the Supreme Council 33 of Ancient and Accepted Scottish Rite. I received the 4th,10th,14th,20th, 30th and 32nd degrees thereby making me a 32nd Degree Scottish Rite Mason.

A.A.S.R. - Lodge of Perfection 4th and 14th Degrees tonight

I am very excited to begin my journey to further Masonic Light tonight as a member of the fall class of 2009 in the Valley of Baltimore of the Southern Jurisdiction of the Ancient & Accepted Scottish Rite. We will be seeing the 4th (Secret Master) and the 14th (Perfect Elu) degrees tonight. I have waited a long time to see these degrees and thanks to the support of my awesome wife it is finally time. More to Follow...

Senior Warden for the Night

Tonight I was honored to be asked to be Senior Warden for Concordia Lodge. It was the first time I sat in the West. It was Ham and Oyster Night and we had a significant turnnout including our Deputy Grand Lecturer. In addition I examined a Master Mason for his third degree catechism from Germania Lodge.

First Raising of a Friend

Tonight I assisted in the raising of a childhood neighbor, friend and now my brother KJM at Aberdeen Lodge #187 in Aberdeen Maryland. I was honored to participate in the ritual and contribute to his third degree experience. I wish him the best in his journey.

Fred's 50 Year Pin

Tonight Brother Fred Reitz Jr recieved his 50 year service pin in Washington Lodge. I was especially moved when he asked me to join him at the altar and referred to me as his adopted son and presented me with a number of historic Masonic manuals for safe keeping. I am very grateful for his sponsorship, mentorship and friendship.

York Rite Council Degrees

TonightI received the Royal Master and Select Master Degrees of the Cryptic Council of York Rite Masons. The lectures were inspiring and I look forward to memorizing them in the future.

Royal Arch Mason

Today I received the chapter degrees of the York Rite. Namely those of Mark Master Mason, Virtual Past Master, Most Excellent Master and Royal Arch Mason. I am happy to proclaim that I was paid my wages, saw the temple rebuilt and the Word is no longer lost. I have been exalted to the sublime degree of the Royal Arch.
It was a long day and I am proud to have shared the experience with my brother and friend Jay Mazzone Sr. It is going to take a while before the full significance of the degrees and lessons will be realized. I still need to create my mark and I want to make sure that it is one that is significant to me now and in the future. What is apparent to me is the significance of the moral lessons that continue to be communicated through the degrees.

Harvest Home Day 2009

Today I attended my first Harvest Home day as a Master Mason. It was overwhelming to see so many Maryland Masons in one place. The pancakes and sausage were delicious and I was amazed to see how many new friends I had made in one short year all over the state. I look forward to bringing my oldest next year to see the car clubs and motorcycles.

Impressive 3rd Degree Watercolor Tracing Board

In my surfing activities I came across this 3rd Degree tracing board by Brother Emmanuel Dumigron from Mount Hermon Lodge No. 118 in Asheville, North Carolina. Contact Bro. Dumigron if you would like one of these posters.

My Journey to the 32nd Degree of the Scottish Rite of FreeMasonry

I received my letter acknowledging my petition and assigning my mentor for the Fall class of the Valley of Baltimore for the Ancient & Accepted Scottish Rite of Freemasonry. I am pleased to see that my mentor is an old friend and brother and I look forward to his guidance and mentorship in the Rite. I have been joining my brothers for lunch at the Scottish Rite since i was an EA and I am looking forward to joining their ranks.

Learned to Shoot Trap Today

Today at the invitation of one of my brothers from Pythagorus Lodge 123, I learned how to shoot trap for free at the United Coon Hunter Association faciity in Hampstead MD.
I have always wanted to learn but it was always something I would get to later. It was much more fun than I imagined and I did pretty well for my first time. I shot 3 rounds of 25 shots and in one of my turns I hit 4 out of 5 shots. I was able to try both a pump action and break open shotgun and I was much better with the break open style. I look forward to learning the strategy and improving my skills.

Senior Deacon for the Night

Tonight I was asked to serve as Senior Deacon for the first meeting of the season for Washington Lodge. We opened in the Third Degree and took up the Word tonight and I am happy to say I only had two minor goofs. Not bad for being a Master Mason for 5 months.

Back to Business

After a Summer break we are back to the business of making Masons at Washington Lodge.

Happy Independence Day

Thanks to our founding fathers today I thank God we live in the country we do and enjoy the freedoms we have thanks to their dedication and sacrifice. A special thanks to those founding fathers who were Masons.

Low Vale

Wow! What an experience. It has to be seen. A makeshift lodge setup in the woods, lanterns for the respective lights of the lodge, and the starry decked heaven for a covering. Add to the mix the Grand Line of Maryland performing the degree and it makes for a one of kind experience. There were about 100 brothers on hand for the ceremony, and the candidate is a 4th generation Mason. The weather was beautiful. It was the 3rd Mason Mason Degree that I have witnessed since being raised and I was surprised how fast it went. We ate until dusk when the park was closed and we then opened the lodge. We went to about 11 pm and drive home was challenging with all the winding roads and deer.

First Low Vale Tonight...

I am looking forward to a third degree low vale tonight at Rock State Park being put on by Jeptha Lodge 222. It will be my first low vale and I do not know what to expect other than the degree work. It should be interesting to do degree work the way it was done 100s of years ago and I appreciate the connection of the old to the new... More Later

Junior Warden for a Night.. Redux

Tonight it was my privilege to sit in the South at Concordia for the Second Degree Conferral on the two brothers that I taught the first degree catechism to and it was a great experience. I was able to administer the Second Degree Obligation and was complemented by our Grand Inspector on my execution.

Senior Deacon for the Night

Tonight I got to serve as the Senior Deacon and take up the GM word for the first time as SD for my mother lodge Washington Lodge #3. It was pretty cool unfortunately turnout was light. I got to see the final product of the PM plaque that Paul and I worked on for Walt and it looks very cool. I am looking forward to the fall so that I can petition the Scottish and York Rites as well as the Shrine. I continue to make progress on the first degree lecture as well as teaching the first and second degree catechisms over the summer.

Middle Chamber Lecture

I have finally finished the middle chamber lecture. I will have to practice it a few more times, but I have the majority dead to rights. Funny to think that I have not been a MM for 2 months and already I have completed the grasshopper and the middle chamber lecture. Next I turn my full attention and effort to the degree lectures and charges.
I am confident that when I am eligible to exemplify that my execution will be flawless, at least that is my goal.

Junior Warden for a Night

Tonight I was honored to be asked to sit in the South at Concordia Lodge as the Junior Warden for the initiation of a new entered apprentice. I enjoyed the experience and things went by without incident. I have a new appreciation for the job of the officers of the lodge and look forward to my turn through the chairs. We enjoyed shrimp and chicken salad for refreshment after the lodge meeting.

A Night of Firsts

Our lodge meeting tonight was a series of firsts for me- First Degree, First Time as Officer, First Catechism Questioning, I was an officer for the first time tonight - I was Junior Deacon for an First Degree Lodge at Washington Lodge #3. I was also the catechism questioner for two apprentices, my first two catechism students since becoming a Master Mason. The catechism went well and both brothers were proclaimed proficient.

It has been very interesting teaching and learning at the same time. I started teaching them not long after standing proficiency for the first degree and the process of learning the second and teaching the first has been great. It has reinforced my memorization of the first while allowing me to learn new material for the second. The guys are great and made the teaching fun. I look forward to teaching them the second and third degrees.

Semi Annual Communication

Today I attended the Semi Annual Communication of the Grand Lodge of Maryland for the first time. Though I have been in the grand lodge building several times as it is the home of my blue lodge Washington Lodge #3 I have never been in the Grand Lodge Room before. I had the pleasure of being personally introduced to the Wor
shipful Grand Master Thomas Velvin by my brother and friend Walter Kulesa. The pomp and circumstance involved in the grand master mason lodge is beyond rival and a real treat to see. I look forward to future meetings of the Grand Lodge and would like to participate on the Grand Masters Committee on ritual.

I was very impressed with the architecture of the Grand Lodge Meeting Room. The coffered ceiling is one of the most elaborate that I have seen and it is evident that skilled masons labored on it with great pride of effort. The seats are comfortable and it was a real pleasure to watch the Grand Line of Officers execute their respective stations.

Recruiting Poster?

Pretty much sums it up

The Masonic Ring by Howie Damron

Four Guys Playing Golf

Four guys are playing golf and after a while the first says "you guys have no idea what I had to promise my wife I would do in order to come out and play today... I had to promise to paint the whole house. The second says "thats nothing, I had to promise to buy a hot tub. . The third says thats nothing I had to clean the house for a month. The others noticing the fourth is silent ask him what he had to agree toHe said... its simple every morning I roll over and say to my wife... golf course or intercourse?.. and she says "Wear sunblock"... ... courtesy of Uncle Walt

A Traveling Man At Long Last!

It is official!. Today I am a Master Mason. The experience and symbolism are still swirling in my head. It truly has to be experienced to be appreciated. The Knights of Mecca did an awesome job of conferring the degree and the evening was not without its humor. I was truly overwhelmed by the years of experience of leadership that was present last night with several Past Masters, Past Grand Line Officers and a Past Grand Master in attendance.

There was literally 1000+ man years of Masonry present in the lodge last night.

There were 10+ 50 yr members, 1 75+ years member and several 25+ year members.
The symbolism of the evening was sobering and clearly something that reflection and discussion will expand upon.
I am looking forward to completing my final Blue Lodge catechism and embarking on my "Chairs" education as well as participating in the appendant bodies.

This whole experience went by so quickly. Its funny to think that I waited all those years before I asked 1 to be 1. I have met some truly outstanding men and look forward to increasing my fellowship, knowledge and friendship with my brothers.

The Night Before....

There are lots of things going through my mind tonight on the night before I get raised to the Sublime Degree of Master Mason. In one respect it is the end and in another it is only the beginning of a journey the end of which no traveler ever returns. I have grown accustomed to the voices of my brothers in the lodge and tomorrow will be different as the Knights of Mecca (An order of the Shrine) will be performing the third degree ritual and I do not know any of them (At least I do not think I do). Thats the beauty of this brotherhood, you never know who might be your brother. This is a rite of passage that has been a long time coming for me and I have a great deal of pride in accomplishing it during a season of hardship in my life. I truly believe that everything happens for a reason and the reason for my passage at this time is that I am most ready to receive the Light and apply it to my life.

I can not tell you the appreciation I have for the support of my beautiful wife. She has been very understanding and very supportive of my activities both those related to my Masonic education and also to my teaching catechism to new brothers which takes up more of my time and keeps me away from my family.

I think it is about time for me to get some sleep ( past my bedtime) so that I am well rested to be raised.... more to follow

Shake It Off and Step Up

I heard this story of an old farmer who was walking with his mule when the mule fell in an old well on the farm. Because the mule was old and the well was deep the farmer made the difficult decision to bury the mule and fill in the well. He gathered some farm hands and they proceeded to fill in the well shovel by shovel. The mule determined not to be buried made an interesting choice. Each time they threw a shovel of dirt to bury it the mule shook it off and stood up on the dirt. Before long the mule was able top step out of that hole to freedom. What had been meant for the mules harm it used for its success--- Just Shake It Off and Step Up

Passed The FellowCraft Proficiency

The Two Mikes did it again. This time it was not as intimidating as the first time and it seemed to fly by. We then were able to see a new apprentice initiated as well.

We got our dates tonight

I have been waiting along time for this and tonight we learned that the dates for our FC proficiency and Master Mason raising have been set. Proficiency will be Monday April 13th at Concordia Lodge and raising with be done by the Knights of Mecca at Washington Lodge on April 16th. Very Excited

Tonight I am a Fellow Craft

Having successfully passed our EA proficiency last thursday tonight MIke A and I were passed to the degree of Fellow Craft, the second of the three degrees of FreeMasonry. We were passed at Concordia Lodge 13.

EA Proficiency passed

Tonight Michael A and I stood proficiency for the EA degree in my home lodge- Washington Lodge #3. We did great and passed by ballot of the brothers. It was intimidating going in but passed without incident.